Machine for making tube of elasto-meric material, progressively filling the same with fluid and dividing the filled tube into vendable containers



Nov. 12, 1968 HAYWARD 3,410,051

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBE OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL, PROGRESSIVELY FILLINGTHE SAME WITH FLUID AND DIVIDING THE FILLED TUBE INTO VENDABLECONTAINERS Filed July 28, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 12, 1968 H. M.HAYWARD 3,410,051

MACHINE FOR MAKING "was 0F ELASTOMERIG MATERIAL, PROGRESSIVELY FILLINGTHE SAME WITH FLUID AND DIVIDING THE FILLED TUBE INTO VENDABLECONTAINERS Filed July 28, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 12, 1968 M HAYWARD3,410,051

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBE OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL, PROGRESSIVE'LY FILLINGTHE SAME WITH FLUID AND DIVIDING THE FILLED TUBE INTO VENDABLECONTAINERS Filed July 28, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGS Nov. 12, 1968 H. M.HAYWARD 3,410,051

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBE OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL, PROGRESSIVELY FILLINGTHE SAME WITH FLUID AND DIVIDING THE FILLED TUBE INTO VENDABLECONTAINERS Filed July 28, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 12, 1968 H. M.HAYWARD 3,410,051

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBE OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL, PROGRESSIVELY FILLINGTHE SAME WITH. FLUID AND DIVIDING THE FILLED TUBE INTO VENDABLECONTAINERS Filed July 28, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 NOV. 12, 1968 M, Y RD3,410,051

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBE OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL. PROGRESSIVELY FILLINGTHE SAME WITH FLUID AND DIVIDING THE FILLED TUBE INTO VENDABLECONTAINERS Filed July 28, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 1 Nov. 12, 1968 H. M.HAYWARD 3,410,051

MACHINE FOR MAKING TUBE OF ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL. PROGRESSIVELY FILLINGTHE SAME WITH FLUID AND DIVIDING THE FILLED TUBE INTO VENDABLECONTAINERS Filed July 28, 1966 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 United States PatentThis invention relates to the machine subject of United States of'America Patent No, 3,154,901. The present invention has been devised tomodify such machine by:

(i) Adapting the machine to operate vertically (ii) Incorporating meansfor making tubes of elastomeric material and progressively filling thesame'with fluid (iii) Dividing the tubes transversely by fusing meansinto conjoined compartments and, in one embodiment of the invention,severing the tubes along the fused seams into vendable containers (iv)In another embodiment adapting the machine incorporating -(i), (ii) and(iii) to make, fill and sever two or more tubes simultaneously, andwhere the tubes are formed from strip material which is pre-printed withdata relating to the contents of each container, to incorporate means tosynchronise the components (ii) and (iii) with respect to the positionof the printing on each container (v) In another embodimentincorporating in the tube at the position of each container to be formedmeans to take a sealing cap whereby the container can be used forpartial, i.e., periodic, discharge of fluid and sealed after eachdischarge.

Broadly the invention provides a machine for making a tube from plasticstrip by folding the strip and fusing the folded parts together, thencharging the tube with fluid and transversely dividing and fusing thefilled part of the tube into vendable containers of uniform length; saidmachine comprising a frame on which is mounted in descending order fromthe top, units A, B, C and D wherein unit A is a tube forming unit, unitB and unit D are tube pulling units and unit C is a tube transversedividing and fusing unit; unit A comprises a, hollow mandrel, tubeforming means including a strip edge overlapping device and a tubefusing unit, and a fluid supply pipe passing through said mandrel; unitB comprises tube gripping jaws constructed to displace fluid in the tubeupwardly, actuating means therefor and means to reciprocate unit B onsaid frame; unit C comprises transverse tube fusing bars and actuatingmeans therefor; unit D comprises tube gripping jaws and actuating meanstherefor, unit D being connected to unit B for reciprocation therewith;means to synchronise the reciprocating movement of units B and D withthe operation of units A and C A preferred form of the invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the upper section of the machinewherein strips of material are formed into tubes.

FIG. 1B is a similar view of the lower section of the machine whereinthe tubes are formed into a series of containers.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one form of upper gripper mechanism,incorporating means for maintaining the tubes in running register and toprevent an excess pressure of fluid in the formed containers.

FIG. 3 is a section of plane 3-3 of FIG. 2.

3,410,051 Patented Nov. 12, 1968 'ice FIG. 4 is a plan view of thecomponents shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one ofthe tube forming andseaming units.

FIG. 6 is a plan view on the plane 77 in FIG. 1B showing the containerforming mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a plan view on the plane 77 in FIG. 1B showing lower grippermechanism.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation on the plane 8-8 in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of mechanism to fix sealing caps on theformed tubes, when such are required for the containers to be formed.

The machine comprises a horizontal base 10 of fou members, and two pairsof vertical posts namely a front pair 11 and a back pair 12 joinedtogether by stays 13. The front posts 11 are of square cross sectionand'the rear posts are of channel section. One of the rear posts 12 isextended as at 14 above the other posts, and carries spindles 15 uponwhich two rolls 16 of plastic strip 17 are mounted. The strips 17 areled over guide rollers '18, under stress relieving rollers to bedescribed, and then pass downwardly into the components of units A whichare identical and are now designated as units 19-20 and comprise thetube forming and filling means.

Unit 20 (see FIG. 5) consists of two spaced parallel horizontal top andbottom plates 21 of dielectric material, mounted on a metal frame work22 fixed to the top of one of the posts 11. Axially aligned holes in theplates 21 have top and bottom tube forming and guide bushes 23a and 23respectively therein and a mandrel tube 24 is concentrically positionedwithin and projects through each bush 23a23. The mandrel 24 is supportedby bracket 25 fixed to a supporting frame.

The guide rollers 18 orient each strip 17 so that as each strip isformed into a tube in the top bush 23a the edges of the strip travelthrough a strip edge overlapping device 26 and are overlapped thereby.In the device 26 one marginal edge 27 of the strip 17 enters an arcuateslot 28 and the other marginal edge 29 is positioned by a tongue 30 atthe entrance to the slot 28. The device 26 ensures that the strip entersthe bush 23a with one marginal edge 27 overlapping the other marginaledge 29. The strip 17 in this form passes through the top plate 21.

Opposed traverse slots 31 are formed in the plates 21 in diametricalignment with the bushes 23 and 23a. An electric seam fusing head 32 isslidably mounted in the traverse slots 31. The fusing head 32 isreciprocated into and out of fusing engagement with the overlapped edgesof the strip between the bushes 23 and 23a by crank arms 33 on a shaft34 mounted in bearings in the plates 21. The crank arms slidably engagein slots 36 in the fusing head 32.

A bell crank lever 37 is fixed to the top of the shaft 34 and one arm 38is operatively connected to the piston rod 39 of a pneumatic cylinder 40mounted on the upper plate 21. The other arm 41 of the crank 37 isprovided with a threaded stop pin 42 which engages with a bracket 43 onthe plate 21 when the piston rod 39 moves the fusing head 32 into fusingposition.

The fusing head 32 is connected to a high frequency source of electriccurrent which is generated in a cabinet 44 located alongside the machineand fragmentally shown in FIG. 1B. The strip 17 is intermittently drawnthrough the bushes 23a and 23, by mechanism yet to be described, for adistance slightly less than the distance between said bushes. When thestrip 17 is stationary, the fusing head 32 is advanced by means of thepiston rod 39 and the current is turned on with the fusing unit 32 incontact with the overlapped edges of the strip 17 to form a longitudinalfused seam 45. The seam 45 can be cooled by an air jet from the tube 46secured to the lower plate 21, as the tube passes through the bush 23.

til- .1 1;

and are led down between the machine front posts 11 to a second highfrequency fusing unit 47 mounted on the posts 11 by bolts 48 (see FIGS.1B and 6).'

Referring to FIG. 6, the fusing unit 47 comprises fuse bars 49 and 50which flatten the tubes and when high frequency current is passedthrough the bars 49 and the tube walls are fused together transverselyby a seam across the flattened parts. Feed tubes 51 extend into'thebores of the hollow mandrels 24 in the seaming units 19 and 20 and downthrough the formed tubes to a position below the unit A.

- A pump (not shown) is operated intermittently to pump fluid into thetubes 51. The discharge at each pump operation is metered to deliver aquantity of fluid less than the capacity of two of the ultimatecontainers 52. This minimises the likelihood of creating an excesspressure in the completed container 52. For some fluids gravity may berelied on in place of pumpingmeans.

In the fusing unit 47 (see FIG. 6) there is a front plate 53incorporating a saddle on which are mounted fusing bars 49. The frontplate 53 is mounted on rods 54 which are horizontally slidable in gearboxes 55. The rear ends of the rods 54 have a yoke 56 thereon. A pair ofguide rods 57 extend between the plate 53 and yoke 56 clear of the gearboxes 55, and a crosshead 58 is slidably supported on the rods 57. Thefusing bars 50 are mounted on the front face of the crosshead 58.

Flanged wings 59 extend from the sides of the crosshead 58 and carryrods 60 which enter the gear boxes 55, spaced from and parallel to therods 54. Gear tooth racks 61 are cut in the rods 54 and 60 within eachgear box 55 and a pinion 62 in each gear box, meshes with the racks 61.The front plate 53 and crosshead 58 are thus interconnected so thatmovement of the crosshead, in one direction, will cause the plate 53 tomove in the opposite direction. This movement is controlled by tandempneumatic cylinders 63 which are secured to the yoke 56, and have theirpiston rods 64 connected to the crosshead 58. Stop pins 65 adjustablylimit the movement in each direction. The manner of operation of thepneumatic cylinders will be described later.

As the strips are formed into the tubes 35 they are drawn downwardly bytwo gripper units 66 and 67 which are located respectively above andbelow the fusing unit 47, and are as shown in FIGS. 1B, 2, 3 and 7.

. The lower gripper unit 67 is of similar construction to the fusingunit 47 except that the fusing bars 49 and 50 are replaced by gripperbars 68 and the same reference numerals plus the letter a, are used torefer to them. The gripper bars 68 are mounted on front plate 53a andcrosshead 58a. The gripper bars 68 are moved by cylinders 63a as beforebut in this case the gear boxes 55a are vertically slidably mounted onthe posts 11 through guides 69.

The lower ends of connecting bars 70 are bolted to the guides 69. Thebars 70 extend upwardly, through apertures 71 in the gear boxes 55 (seeFIG. 6), to the upper gripper unit 66 where they are bolted as at 72 togear boxes 73 forming the sides of the upper gripper unit 66. Thegripper unit 66 is slidably mounted on two vertical bars 74 secured tothe posts 11. The gripper units 66 and 67 are thus joined by the bars 70so that they are vertically movable in unison. This vertical movement iscontrolled by an upper and lower pneumatic cylinder 75 and 76 (see FIGS.1A and 1B). The upper cylinder 75 is anchored to a cross member 77 fixedto the tops of the posts 11, and the lower end of its piston rod 78 issecured to a cross bar 79 fixed to the gear boxes 73 of the uppergripper unit 66 (see FIG. 8). The lower cylinder 76 is mounted in across member 80 fixed to the posts 11 below the gripper unit 67 and itspiston rod 81 is connected to a second cross member 82 fixed to theguides 69 of the lower gripper unit 67.

Cables 83 are anchored to the cross member 82; they pass around pulleys84 on shafts mounted between the 'posts ll'and posts 12; the cablespassupwardly between the posts 12 and are anchored to the upper ends ofthe bars 70 which extend above the upper gripper unit 66. Acounterweight 85 is fixed on each cable 83 so that the weight of thegripper units am 67 is counter balanced. The cylinders 75 and 76 havetherefore only to'overcome the inertia of the gripper units 66 and 67 toeffect vertical. movement thereof.

The limits of the movement of the gripper units .66 and 67- is adjustedby nuts 87 and 88, screwed on-the piston rod 78 on opposite sides ofbeam 86 through which the piston rod 78 freely passes (see FIG. 1A). Theupper nut 87 is arranged to contact the upper face of the beam 86 andthe lower nut 88 is located below and"arranged to contact a horizontalstop bar 89 .pantographically secured below the beam 86, by links 90.The position of the stop bar 89 is adjusted by a threaded rod 91 and alink system 92 which provides an accurate vernier adjustment for theupward movement of the piston rod 78. A sprocket 93 is secured to therod 91 and carries an endless chain 94 so that the adjustment can becarried out by an operator near the base 10 of the machine.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the upper gripper unit 66consists of two pairs of jaw units 95 and 96 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). Theunit 95 consists of two pairs of swing arms 97, each pair having fixedbetween them a jaw bar 98. The pairs of arms 97 are rotatably mounted onaligned shafts 99 fixed to the gear boxes 73 and they are gearedtogether at the mounting position by gears 100. The jaw bars 98 aremoved to open and closed position to grip and release a tube, by apneumatic unit 101 connected to the swing arms 97 of one of'the jaw barunits and anchored to the gear boxes 73.

Two pairs of shorter swing arms 102 are fixed on the shafts 99 and aregeared together and rotatable in the gear housing 73 by the gears 122.The pairs of arms 102 each have tube gripping rollers 104 and 104arespectively part rotatably mounted thereon. Each roller 104-104a has aninterengaging lug 105 and 105a and a spring carrier arm 106. The springcarrier arms 106 are held against stops 107 on the arms 102, by springs108 at the position where the lugs 105-105a inter-engage. The roller10411 of each pair has an actuating arm 109 thereon, adapted to abut aregulator stop 110 which can be moved into a determined abuttingposition by an adjusting screw 111 raising or lowering an arm 112 onwhich a bar 113 is rotatably mounted as at 114. This bar 113 carries theregulator stop 110. Contact is made between the arm 109 and the stop 110when the gripper unit 66 is lowered. The rollers 104 are moved to openand closed positions to grip or release a tube, by a pneumatic unit 115(one of each pair) connected to one of the short arms 102 and also tothe gear boxes 73.

In gripping position if the arm 109 of either one of the rollers 104acontacts its regulator stop 110 such roller through its lug 105a willrotate its mating roller 104 and such pair of rollers will draw the tubegripped thereby downwardly a distance as predetermined by the adjustingscrew 111. The respective regulator stops 110 are moved in and out ofengaging positions by linkages indicated at 16 actuated by solenoids117. The linkage-solenoid assemblies aremounted on the arms 112.

In operation when the jaw bars 98 are moved to closed position theydisplace upwardly a quantity of fluid in the tubes 35 slightly in excessof the area of the tube to be closed by the fusing means. Then therollers 104-10411, which are preferably made or faced with anelastomeric material, are closed o'n the tube and seal off fluid abovethem. While the rollers 104-10401 remain closed the jaw bars 98 areopened and the jaw unit carrier moves downwardly a distancepredetermined by adjustable stop screws 118 in brackets 119 fixed to theunit 66 (see FIG. 2). The stop screws 118 are in register with a crossbar 120 fixed to the posts 11. The roller assembly carries with it tubes35 with the filled but unloaded part to fusing position.

If in the case of tubes formed of pre-printed strip material, theprinting on the tubes or one of them is not in register with markings onthe machine--an out of register position would normally be above therollers 104- 104athe machine operator adjusts the regulator stop 110 ofthe out of register tube and moves it into contact position (see FIG.3). The rollers holding the out of register tube by abutting the stopare thus given a part rotary movement and the tube gripped thereby isdrawn downwardly the additional distance as set by the adjusting means.

Adjustment of the vertical distance between the upper and lower gripperjaw units 66 and 67 and consequently the length of a container iseffected by a toothed rack 121 (see FIGS. 2 and 8), on one edge of thebars 70 which meshes with gears (not shown) in the gear boxes 73. Thebolts 72 must be removed to effect this adjustment; a series of holes124 are formed in the bars 70 to allow for the adjustment.

In order to time the actuation of the various pneumatic cylinderscontrolling the functions of the machine a master air flow control valve125 (FIG. 1B) is provided. This valve is mounted on a platform 126 fixedto the side of the machine. The valve 125 is controlled by a series ofmotor driven cams 127.

In operation, the gripper jaw units 66 and 67, with their jaws 98 and 68in the open position, are raised from the dotted positions shown in FIG.8, whilst the bars 49 and 50 of the fusing units 47 are gripping andfusing the tubes 35. The gripper units 66 and 67 then close about thetubes 35 and then the fusing unit 47 opens to release the tubes. Thegripper units 66 and 67 are then drawn downwardly pulling the tubes 35with them. The fusing bars 49 and 50 are then advanced to contact thetubes and fuse them so that containers 52 are formed therein. Whilstthis is occurring the gripper units 66 and 67 have been opened andraised to the upper position to commence another cycle.

As described, two continuous chains of containers 52 are formed. Ifdesired, the gripper bars 68 of the lower gripper unit 67 can besupplemented by cropping dies shown in dotted lines in FIG. 8 andindicated at 68a, mounted on the plate 53a and crosshead 58a. Thesecropping dies will cut through the tubes at the fused sections.

Where cropping dies are used, a timed movement conveyor is provided topick up the containers as they are severed. Such a conveyor is shown indotted lines in FIG. 9 and indicated by the reference 128.

To reduce stress in the strip 17 and in the length of tube between theseaming and forming units 19 and 20 and the gripping units 66 and 67, afurther pneumatic cylinder 129 (FIG. 1A) is mounted on the extension 14of the post 12. Rollers 130 are carried by the piston rod 131 of thiscylinder 129, and the rollers are moved downwardly against the strips 17between the guide rollers 18. This occurs when the strips 17 arestationary within the seaming units 19 and 20 and fusing units 47, sothat a length of each strip 17 is unrolled from the rolls 16. Therollers 130 are then returned to their original upper position so thatslack is left in the strips 17 which will be taken up on the nextdownward movement of the strips 17 through the seaming units 1920.

The nature of the material from which the containers are made is suchthat stretching can occur immediately after the fusing unit 47 hasoperated, if the full weight of the filled container has to be taken bythe heat softened transversely seamed portion of the tube. To counteractthis the gripping bars and/ or the fusing bars and/ or the cropping diescan be cooled as indicated by the air tube 46.

In the case of a single tube forming and filling unit, the tube runningregister mechanism of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 is not required, but in singletube forming, filling and sealing it is necessary to provide a cavity inthe upper gripper jaws 98 to constitute a bleed for fluid displaced bythese gripper jaws. However, the apparatus of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 can beadapted to serve the same function in a single tube machine.

The mechanism of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 is essential to machines forming,filling and sealing two or more tubes, where such tubes are formed fromstrip material which is pre-printed with data relating to the contentsof each container.

Referring to FIG. 9, a conveyor 132 is arranged to feed sealing caps 133from a source of supply and from an unscrambling mechanism (not shown),to a loading position where, in the embodiment illustrated, four tubulararms 134 located in a common vertical plane on a crosshead 135 on alever 136 fulcrumed on an arm 137 fixed to the machine. The lever 136 isadapted to be swung in a horizontal plane to move the arms 134 into andout of register with a tube 35 by a pneumatic unit 138 mounted on abracket 139. The crosshead 135 is rotated to bring the arms 134 intosuccessive register with a cap pick-up position indicated at 139, andwith a tube 35 immediately below the tube forming unit, by pneumaticunit 140 and linkage 141. The linkage 141 rotates the crosshead 135 by aratchet wheel and pawl located as indicated at 142. At the cap pick-upposition, a solenoid actuated plunger 143 pushes a cap 133 into the arm134 in register therewith, the cap 133 being held projecting from arm134 by its flange 144.

When the cap 133 is brought into register with tube 35, it is fusedthereon. The arms 134 and the mandrel 24 constitute the fusingelectrodes.

A punch (not shown) may be incorporated to punch holes in the strip 17before it is formed into a tube, the holes being formed to register withthe arm 134 located at the cap fusing position.

Adjusting means are provided to maintain the caps in registeringposition with the holes punched in the strip. To effect this the arm 137and bracket 139 are vertically slidably mounted on the frame 22 byvertical slide ways 145 (FIG. 1A) and are connected to levers 146 whichare pivotally secured to the frame 22 and 147. The levers 146 areadapted to be moved by threaded rods 148 which are rotatably secured toa control position (not shown) near the base of the machine. By rotatingthe rods 148, the operator can raise or lower the capping unit to effectthe required register adjustment.

I claim:

1. A machine for making a tube from plastic strip by folding the stripand fusing the folded parts together, then charging the tube with fluidand transversely dividing and fusing the filled part of the tube intovendable containers of uniform length; said machine comprising a frameon which is mounted in descending order from the top, units A, B, C andD wherein unit A is a tube forming unit, unit B and unit D are tubepulling units and unit C is a tube transverse dividing and fusing unit;unit A comprises a hollow mandrel, tube forming means including a stripedge overlapping device and a tube fusing unit, and a fluid supply pipepassing through the said mandrel; unit B comprises tube gripping jawsconstructed to displace fluid in the tube upwardly, actuating meanstherefor and means to reciprocate unit B on said frame; unit C comprisestransverse tube fusing bars and actuating means therefor; unit Dcomprises tube gripping jaws and actuating means therefor, unit D beingconnected to unit B for reciprocation therewith; means to synchronisethe reciprocating movement of units B and D with the operation of unitsA and C.

2. A machine according to claim 1 including means to fix sealing caps onthe tube at the position of each container to be formed.

3. A machine according to claim 1 including a base, a pair of frontposts and a pair of rear posts upstanding from the base, an upwardlydisposed extension on one of the rear posts, a roll of tube formingstrip material mounted on a spindle fixed on the extension, guiderollers mounted on the extension for guiding the strip material passingthereover to the tube forming unit, and'a stress relieving rollermounted for reciprocation on an arm on the extension, said stress,relievingroller being located above thestrip between the guide rollersand being moved downwardly. to engage the strip to relieve tension onthe strip prior to feeding the strip to the fusing unit.

.4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the tube forming unitcomprises spaced, parallel, horizontal top and bottom plates ofdielectric material mounted on a framework fixed to the top .-front ofthe machine frame, axially aligned holes in the plates, top and bottombushes fixed in the-holes, said top bush being a tube forming bushincluding the strip edge overlapping device, said strip edge overlappingdevice comprising an arcuate slot formed through the top plate andcommunicating atone of its ends with the tube forming bush, and a tonguein the tube forming bush at the entrance from said tube formingbush'into the arcuate slot, said slot extending past the tongue, saidbottom bush being a guide bush, the mandrel projecting concentricallythrough the bushes,- an electric seam fusing head slidably mounted inand between the -plates,.and means to reciprocate the seam fusing headinto and out of engagement with the overlapped edges of the strip.

5. A machine according to claim 1 adapted to make and fill at least twoplastic tubes simultaneously and to fill and divide them into vendablecontainers wherein the tube gripping jaws of unit B consists of twopairs of long swing arms rotatably mounted on aligned shafts and gearedtogether in pairs at the mounting positions, each pair of long armshaving a pair of jaw bars fixed between them, one arm of each of thepairs of long arms having an actuating pneumatic unit connected theretoand anchored to supporting means; two pairs ofshorter swing armsrotatably mounted with said shafts andflgeared together in pairs throughsaid shafts, eachspair of shorter arms having .tubegripping rollers partrotatably mounted thereon, each roller havingan interengaging lug anda'spring carrierarm thereon, said spring carrier armsbeing heldagainst-stops at the position-where the lugs inter-engage one abovetheother, the roller of each pair with the upper engaging lug having anactuating armilo'catedto abuta regulator stop whereby the rollers can berotated by the lugs, one arm :of each pair of shorter arms .having anactuatingpneumatie unit connected theretoand anchored to supportingmeansr. r

r 6. A 'machine having tube gripping jaws according to claim 5,includingmeans to open and close the jaws, firstly the 'jaw bars on thelong arms to displace upwardly a quantity: offiuid in thetubes grippedthereby and secondly the rollers on the shorter arms to hold thedisplaced-fluid 7 above the long arm jaws-whilethe long arms jaws areretracted, the tubes moved to fusing position and the transverse fusingoperation completed. r

I ReferencesiCit ed Q I r UNITED STATES PATENTS v 3,149,447' 9/19 4 Dorr53- 1sp FOREIGN PATENTS sssaoe 5/1960 GreatBritainf TRAVIS S, MCGEHEE,Primary Examiner. E. F; DESMOND, Assistant Examiner-. 1

1. A MACHINE FOR MAKING A TUBE FROM PLASTIC STRIP BY FOLDING THE STRIPAND FUSING THE FOLDED PARTS TOGETHER, THEN CHARGING THE TUBE WITH FLUIDAND TRANSVERSELY DIVIDING AND FUSING THE FILLED PART OF THE TUBE INTOVENDABLE CONTAINERS OF UNIFORM LENGTH; SAID MACHINE COMPRISING A FRAMEON WHICH IS MOUNTED IN DESCENDING ORDER FROM THE TOP, UNITS A, B, C, ANDD WHEREIN UNIT A IS A TUBE FORMING UNIT, UNIT B AND UNIT D ARE TUBEPULLING UNITS AND UNIT C IS A TUBE TRANSVERSE DIVIDING AND FUSING UNIT;UNIT A COMPRISES A HOLLOW MANDREL, TUBE FORMING MEANS INCLUDING A STRIPEDGE OVERLAPPING DEVICE AND A TUBE FUSING UNIT, AND A FLUID SUPPLY PIPEPASSING THROUGH THE SAID MANDREL, UNIT B COMPRISES TUBE GRIPPING JAWSCONSTRUCTED TO DISPLACE FLUID IN THE TUBE UPWARDLY, ACTUATING MEANSTHEREFOR AND MEANS TO RECIPROCATE UNIT B ON SAID FRAME; UNIT C COMPRISESTRANSVERSE TUBE FUSING BARS AND ACTUATING MEANS THEREFOR; UNIT DCOMPRISES TUBE GRIPPING JAWS AND ACTUATING MEANS THEREFOR, UNIT D BEINGCONNECTED TO UNIT B FOR RECIPROCATION THEREWITH; MEANS TO SYNCHRONISETHE RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT OF UNITS B AND D WITH THE OPERATION OF UNITSA AND C.